Jazz Singing

America's Great Voices From Bessie Smith to Bebop and Beyond

This comprehensive study of jazz traces the growth and development of jazz beginning at its roots, with legendary greats Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, and introducing readers to such less well-known figures as Connie Boswell and Cliff Edwards.

Opinion

From the critics

Community Activity

Comment

One of the best books about jazz singers from al Jolson to Casssandra Wilson (this needs another update since the latest is 1990 and many jazz singers have come up since then). A good companion to the same author's The Biographical Guide to Jazz and Pop Singers. Presented in chronological order that basically follows the various genres from Blues to Classic Jazz to Swing to Bop to its present unpredictable stage, jazz singing has come a long way. I am deeply indebted to this book for discovering some great singers whom I have never known nor heard like Bill Henderson, Jackie Paris, Al Hibbler, Bea Wain, Earl Coleman. A must-read book for those interested on the subject.

If you are looking for a jazzy big book on just about everybody who is anybody in Jazz then look no further. A miraculous blend of discography, and biography the chapters are often comparisons like Mr. Satch and Mr. Cros. Friedman is very well versed in the medium and includes some of my favorites like Kay Starr and Jack Teagarden. His wit is readily available to the reader when he truly dislikes a performer or group. This is very evident by his comments about the Ink Spots, one I do like listening to! He says at one point in describing their aptitude in imitating band instruments in their music: They ran it so far into the ground that they struck oil, lucking into a commercial success that resulted in decades of big time gigs and recordings by any number of Ink Spot groups - sort of a McDonald''s franchise of bad music. Still I can appreciate the humor; I have never been able to listen to the Ink Spots non-stop myself!